 Episcopal School of Baton Rouge is pleased to recognize twelve National Merit Semifinalists and three Commended Scholars from the Class of 2021. The fifteen students represent approximately 15% of the school’s 103-member senior class. National Merit Semifinalists:
Commended Scholars:
According to the National Merit Scholarship Program, close to two million students compete each year, with approximately 16,000 making it to the semifinal round. Semifinalists are top scorers on the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test/PSAT test in their state. National Merit finalists will be announced in February with winners named in the spring. The selection committee reviews student grades, activities and leadership, as well as school information to determine the winners. Scholarships are then awarded from the National Merit Scholarship Program, corporations, colleges and universities. The Episcopal 2021-2022 application is now available! For more information on the application process, to schedule a tour, or learn more about the school, contact us at enrollment@ehsbr.org or 755-2684.
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 The college admissions journey looks a lot different this year. In fact, the current pandemic has essentially upended the entire process for how schools select potential students. While the headlines and the news present a daunting picture when it comes to this year’s process, College Counseling Director Justin Fenske says there are still aspects of the process upon which students can count. 1. College visits. “Campuses now are not representative of what school is really like,” says Fenske. He says with many campuses transitioning in and out of distance learning and numerous health and safety protocols in place, today’s college experience is much different than it was before the pandemic. While a visit will look different this year, there are still opportunities to learn more about a school. Fenske encourages students to “take part in virtual visits” or to adjust their visit timeline and wait until after they are accepted to visit a school. 2. Research. Research remains an important aspect of the college admissions journey. Fenske says this year’s research should include several new components. “Pay attention to how colleges are handling the pandemic,” he says. He advises students to closely watch how colleges are treating their students and how they are responding to student needs. It’s also important to pay attention to the school’s financial status and whether or not programs are being eliminated. Fenske advises students to register for college updates and news alerts to ensure they have the latest information as it is released. 3. Soul searching. As in the past, students should really consider their future goals. Fenske says it’s especially important now for students to examine what they want out of their college experience and go for precisely that. For example, there is an expectation that nationally more students will elect to attend a school closer to home due to the current situation. Fenske says this means for students who wish to go away for college there may be more opportunities to do so. 4. Apply. Fenske says now is the time for members of the Class of 2021 to work on their college applications. With changes to the admissions process, an application that tells a good story and provides a clear picture of a student’s academic and extracurricular experiences will be even more important for getting the attention of overwhelmed admissions officers. Members of the College Counseling team, including Fenske, Shandi Fazely and Dr. Alan Newton, are monitoring the ever-changing world of college admissions. Fenske encourages families to reach out to their counselor for assistance or concerns. The team is also offering several opportunities to help students in the process.
Virtual Admissions Visits This year, college representatives are logging in and participating in the Episcopal visits of the past, virtually. Fenske says because a virtual campus visit is budget friendly, the team expects more schools to connect with Episcopal students this year. For example, an Irish university recently expressed interest in a virtual visit with Episcopal juniors and seniors. Fenske says there are already more than 30 of these visits planned with many more expected. Coffee with the College Counselors The College Counseling team is also providing virtual coffee chats with families on a bi-weekly basis. Counselors will discuss topical issues and answer questions from participants. Fenske says this virtual format is actually proving to be popular because of the reduced time commitment it requires of families. See below for upcoming Virtual College Counseling Coffee event dates: What is Test Optional Admissions? September 17th at 10 am or 4 pm Register here Scholarships and Financial Aid October 1st at 10 or 4 pm Register here Everyone in the world of college admissions is adapting to the realities of life in 2020. Episcopal students are fortunate to have a team of College Counselors to help them through the process. Students are encouraged to reach out to the counselors as needed to assist them with this important process. The Episcopal 2021-2022 application is now available! For more information on the application process, to schedule a tour, or learn more about the school, contact us at enrollment@ehsbr.org or 755-2684.
 Photo from "The Expense of Freedom" documentary. “If you don’t understand the past, you’re not going to get the future.” Isabella Ruiz grew up frequently hearing this advice from her grandmother Nilda Maria Aguirre. Now as a sophomore Isabella is a history enthusiast. For the second year in a row, she qualified for the National History Day state competition. This year’s project holds a special meaning for her as she worked with classmates Zykia Howard and Barrow Alexander to document her grandmother’s immigration to the United States from Cuba. “My grandmother is one of the most inspiring women I know,” says Isabella. Isabella had never watched a documentary before her Upper School history teacher Vincent Hoang encouraged her to transform a classroom assignment into a documentary inspired by her grandmother’s journey. Being open to new projects and full of excitement, Isabella dove right into the effort and thus, “The Expense of Freedom” documentary was born. Early on her classmates volunteered to help and the three students traveled to Hammond to interview Nilda. The trio poured over documents, photographs and treasures that Nilda had kept since arriving in America in 1961. They also sat down to film her as she shared what it was like to leave her homeland at the age of five with one suitcase and her favorite doll. Isabella and her team ended up with 45 minutes of raw footage. There was the story of young Nilda defending her doll from airport security and the tale of Nilda’s father nearly being pulled from the airplane. Nilda described what it felt like to be in a new country without her extended family and the people she knew. There is also a deep sense of gratitude for the freedom that Nilda and her parents gained. Nilda has always told Isabella that the family didn’t come to America for wealth, but for a better life and the opportunity to embrace the American dream. Part of that dream included education. Nilda is a passionate advocate for education. Isabella says her grandmother often reminds her that education is something that no one can take from you and that while materials may disappear your education sticks with you. “The Expense of Freedom” documentary is something that will stick with Isabella and her partners Zykia and Barrow for some time. Isabella says it was nice to share the experience with her classmates as the two knew little of the Cuban immigrant experience prior to this. “The experience gave great insight into the struggles of the Cuban people in that era,” says Zykia. “Working on the project gave me a greater appreciation of the things immigrants have to endure to gain the opportunities provided in the United States. By researching information, I’ve learned many new things.” Projects such as “The Expense of Freedom” documentary are a great example of the hands-on learning and in-depth exploration that occurs at Episcopal. “I am so proud of the excellent work our students did during this project,” says history teacher Hoang. “As one of their many advisors, National History Day embodies the learning process and what we strive to accomplish here at Episcopal. From brainstorming to producing a viable product, the students are able to learn and grow from the entire process. This year was an exceptional year as students produced a wide variety of works - from documentaries to in-depth papers; the breaking boundaries theme provided a vehicle for them to push their creativity to the fullest.” For Isabella and her family, “The Expense of Freedom” documentary is much more than an assignment. The experience has provided them a meaningful way to preserve the powerful story of a young girl and her family embarking on a journey to freedom. To watch “The Expense of Freedom” click here.  "The Expense of Freedom" documentary team including Zykia Howard, Isabella Ruiz and Barrow Alexander. Congratulations to all of the Episcopal Upper School students who recently participated in the History Day event at the West Baton Rouge Museum. Senior Research Paper 1st place - Muskaan Mahes 2nd place - Tanya Mencer 3rd place - Emily Lynch 4th place - Zoe Marceaux Senior Individual Documentary 1st place - Fox Garon Senior Group Documentary 1st place - Isabella Ruiz, Zykia Howard, and Barrow Alexander History Bee 1st place - Carter McLean 2nd place - Muskaan Mahes Semifinalists - Fox Garon, Emily Lynch, Zoe Marceaux Additional participants: Ruby Friloux and Ellie Williams
The Episcopal 2020-2021 application is now available! For more information on the application process, to schedule a tour, or learn more about the school, contact us at enrollment@ehsbr.org or 755-2684.
 Transitioning to online learning can present some challenges for everyone. What will be critical early on is setting up a routine, and making adjustments as needed. Coordinate with peers and adults you trust to get ideas for what is working for them. Strategies to consider:
Apps That Act Like Math and Science Tutors for Homework Help Free Educational Apps, Games, and Websites Top Time-Management Apps As mentioned above, having a daily schedule will be extremely helpful. Remember, that your school day always includes recess/break, lunch, and often P. E. Here is a sample schedule below that can be a guide: Sample Schedule
Our counseling team is here to support you during these times. Please email your division counselor, or Robin Talamo (LSS Coordinator) if we can be of assistance.
Robin TalamoRobin Talamo, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, who has been practicing for over twenty years. She has served as the Episcopal Learning Support Services Coordinator since 2012. With the assistance of the other counselors, she guides the three divisions with support for students with various learning differences. She leads such groups as Parents U-Knighted, the OYES program, and other important campus support activities. The Episcopal 2020-2021 application is now available! For more information on the application process, to schedule a tour, or learn more about the school, contact us at enrollment@ehsbr.org or 755-2684.
 Students and faculty will return from Mardi Gras break this year to a week of LAUNCH 2020 festivities. Although the majority of the presentations will take place on Friday, March 6th, the official day of LAUNCH, several presentations and activities will lead up to the big day. Planning and preparation have been underway for months, as students have taken projects and work that they are passionate about and adapted their in-depth knowledge into an engaging presentation. This is what LAUNCH is all about -- coming together as a community to celebrate some of the most exciting moments of learning. Our students act on their own passion and curiosity to create something authentic, then boldly stand before an audience to share what they’ve discovered. What you’ll see during LAUNCH week are distilled versions of much larger projects. ESTAAR students, for instance, spend over 100 hours in a laboratory working to test their hypotheses and collaborate with research assistants and professors. Some Thesis students have 50 pages of content written to support their argument. And, of course, the "Mamma Mia" session is just a joyful teaser of what’s to come in a few weeks. But each presentation and project has been carefully crafted for a very specific audience: their peers. For these presenters to take their ideas and new understanding, crafting it into a presentation to share with an auditorium full of their friends and classmates requires a great deal of vulnerability and bravery. When you watch these presentations, it will be apparent that these students care deeply about what they have learned, so much so that they care about sharing that learning with others. By sharing so openly about these ideas, our students are creating an opportunity for dialogue and engagement with their classmates that would be difficult to bring about in a typical classroom setting. Check out the schedule for LAUNCH week and get excited to learn at LAUNCH -- there will be many opportunities to look at topics from new perspectives and celebrate the success of our incredible Episcopal students. LAUNCH 2020 Merchandise is available for purchase in the library. Shirts are $20 and fanny packs are $8 -- buy both for $25.  Tiffany WhiteheadTiffany has been an educator for twelve years and serves as the Director of Library at Episcopal. A lifelong resident of Baton Rouge, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from Southeastern Louisiana University and her Masters in Educational Technology Leadership from Northwestern State University of Louisiana. She has served as the President for ISTE’s Librarians Network and was recognized as one of ISTE’s 2014 Emerging Leaders. Tiffany is National Board Certified in Library Media and was named one of the 2014 Library Journal Movers & Shakers. She was the 2016 recipient of the Louisiana Library Media Specialist Award and is a past president of the Louisiana Association of School Librarians. In 2019, she received the ISTE Librarians’ Network Award for her work in Aldrich Library at Episcopal. Tiffany speaks regularly at state, national, and international conferences on school library and technology topics. The Episcopal 2020-2021 application is now available! For more information on the application process, to schedule a tour, or learn more about the school, contact us at enrollment@ehsbr.org or 755-2684.
 Throughout the year, Episcopal teams up with MasteryPrep to hold ACT and SAT boot camps for our Upper School students. The camps typically are held on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. In a single session, students review test content and learn pacing and time management, essential test-taking techniques, tips for the most important question types, and effective guessing strategies. These camps are very popular with Episcopal students, who rate the camps and the instructors with the highest marks. MasteryPrep is a college readiness company that specializes in helping schools improve their students’ standardized test scores. MasteryPrep was founded by Baton Rouge native Craig Gehring. The company has supported Episcopal by running our boot camps and supplying materials for other test prep programs. Please contact Dr. Alan Newton (newtona@ehsbr.org) for more information about upcoming camps. March 7th SAT Mathematics March 14th ACT To read more about Episcopal test prep, click here. To learn more about College Counseling at Episcopal, click here.  Dr. Alan NewtonDr. Alan Newton hails from Alabama and received his PhD in English from the University of Kansas. At Episcopal, he has taught eighth grade World Geography and History of Religion in addition to his current roles as English teacher, Writing Center Director, and College Counselor. Dr. Newton has taught English and social studies classes and served as a college admissions consultant for more than twenty years, predominantly at college preparatory schools in the United States and South Korea. He is also a published poet and playwright whose play, Whiteout (2001), won a national Kennedy Center award. Outside of school, he enjoys theater, world travel, and playing drums. He is married to Dr. Rebecca Kuhn  Episcopal School of Baton Rouge congratulates 10 National Merit Finalists.
 Episcopal also congratulates Trevor Heath as a National Merit Semifinalist and the following Commended Scholars:
These 14 students represent 14% of the Class of 2020. However, National Merit information only tells part of the Episcopal student experience. Students in all three divisions are accomplishing amazing things academically. Below are a few examples. Upper School Class of 2019 AP performance AP Scholars: 31 AP Scholar with Honor: 18 AP Scholar with Distinction: 37 National AP Scholar: 2 Total students with AP recognition: 88 Middle School Class of 2024 Duke TIP honors State High Scorers: 13 Grand Winners: 2 Lower School Louisiana Elementary Math Olympiad 1st place: 1 student As a school committed to a whole child experience, Episcopal students are encouraged to participate in co-curricular activities. In all three divisions, there are artists, athletes and students committed to service. Congratulations to all of the outstanding Episcopal students who are excelling in the classroom, on the court and in the community. Episcopal truly is educating tomorrow’s leaders every day. The Episcopal 2019-2020 application is now available! For more information on the application process, to schedule a tour, or learn more about the school, contact us at enrollment@ehsbr.org or 755-2684.
 On Saturday, February 1st Episcopal placed 2nd in Division 1 at the Baton Rouge High Mu Alpha Theta math tournament. The tournament was attended by 222 students from 16 schools. Episcopal brought 39 students in grades 5th – 12th that competed in subjects from Algebra 1 to Calculus BC. Individual Tests Algebra 1 1st Luke Stelly Geometry 2nd Joie Lee Honorable Mention – Ahebwa Muhumuza Algebra 2 2nd Joey Roth Honorable Mention – Akshay Basireddy and Autumn Reynolds Precalculus 2nd Joy Lee Calculus BC 2nd James Christian Honorable Mention – Arya Patel Team Tests 1st Algebra 1 – Luke Stelly, Nate McLean, Autumn Baldridge Anshu Padigala 2nd Comprehensive Math 1 – Hayden Singh, Hayden Willett, Joie Lee, Rebekah Reid 3rd Comprehensive Math 1.5 – Scott McAdams, Akshay Basireddy, Shreya Kamath 2nd Comprehensive Math 2 – Tanvi Dhaka, Aadit Narayanan, Joy Lee, Eugene Jiang 1st Calculus A – Savannah York, Shuhei Niwano, Evan Jurkovic 2nd Calculus B – James Christian, Arya Patel, Elaine Gboloo 1st Lower Interschool 3rd Upper Interschool  Joan MoroneyJoan Moroney began teaching in 2007. She has taught Honors Geometry, Algebra II, and Honors Algebra II at Episcopal and is a co-sponsor of the Mu Alpha Theta math competition team. Before coming to Episcopal in 2014, Joan taught high school credit math courses to gifted students at Glasgow Middle School in Baton Rouge. She has a Bachelor of Science in secondary mathematics education from North Carolina State University and a master’s degree in education from Louisiana State University in gifted education. The Episcopal 2020-2021 application is now available! For more information on the application process, to schedule a tour, or learn more about the school, contact us at enrollment@ehsbr.org or 755-2684.
 State championships. Class quotes. That snapshot of you and your best friend that takes you back to a time you’ll never forget. A school yearbook is a timeless link to those special and fleeting moments. A yearbook is something most of us keep forever. Thumbing through them is like opening a time capsule. But, have you ever stopped to think about how the yearbook is created? In a second floor classroom in Perkins Hall, a group of nine students pours their hearts and souls into creating a 300-page account of the 2019-2020 Episcopal experience. (Only nine students!) Yearbook advisor Dianne Madden’s room has everything you’d expect from a creative space – low lighting, ideas and photos pinned to the walls, art and design books, and students huddled in front of computers expertly manipulating Photoshop. The vibe in the space is surprisingly relaxed given the work being done inside. There is a sense of focus and enthusiasm. The room is abuzz with creativity.
This year’s editors, Grace Cullens and Emily Culler, are at ease discussing the creative process.The two are confident and have clearly found their Episcopal niche. “I love designing,” says Cullens. “I love Photoshop and taking photos.” “I like to get involved with school,” says Culler. “I have a passion for photography.” Like an athletic team, yearbook staffers huddle every Monday morning to plan for the upcoming week. The group goes over events and photo assignments to ensure that each Episcopal memory is captured. In addition, each student has a story to tell, whether it’s a spread featuring the soccer team or an update on Middle School robotics. The group divides the assignments based on interest and then they go to work. While the yearbook spreads are presented from nine different perspectives, the students work together to meld their stories into an overall theme. In the end, the memento is cohesive and celebrates the Episcopal spirit at that moment in time. Yearbook staffers eat, sleep and breathe the yearbook. They meet three times a week, during lunch and even on the weekends if necessary. In June, the students are on campus daily to complete this massive undertaking. Cullens remembers her mom calling to ask when she was coming home. Next year’s editor, Zoe Marceaux, remembers another specific moment. “On June 17th at 1 in the morning, Mason called and said it’s finished,” she recalls of the exact time that last year’s book was ready for print. Mason LaFerney ’19, who won the top individual award in the graphics/artwork category for the 2018/2019 yearbook design at the JEA/Tom Bell Silver Scribe Yearbook Contest, left his mark on this team. They are still inspired by the creativity he shared and they remain in touch with him even as he studies at Boston College.
Madden, the yearbook advisor, is like the proud mother of this yearbook family. As students generate ideas, she seeks to guide them through the process. She is there to ensure that the ideas and themes are relevant to the overall Episcopal community now and even 10 years from now. Madden sees the yearbook experience as one that affords students a range of life lessons. For example, as students work on senior spreads they must communicate with "clients" regarding the information. Students must also work as a team and they must "forage" for information such as quotes, facts and photos. There is an emphasis on practicing ethical journalism standards. All of these are real world skills that will be an asset to students long after graduation. For those who love creating and sharing, the rewards of yearbook life are plentiful. There are the friendships that are created as a result of spending countless hours together. There are even impromptu dance parties to break up the stress of the long hours. “I love orientation day when people laugh and enjoy what we’ve created,” says Cullens. Culler says she enjoys knowing that today’s students may one day show their own children what the staff designed. For Madden, there is a great reward in seeing a student grow. She also enjoys introducing them to new concepts that can positively impact their design. “I want them to have an informed way of creating through exposure to art history and culture.”  If the editors could share one thing with their classmates, it would be – please stop saying it’s easy. In fact, creating this archive of Episcopal life is a tremendous task requiring commitment and discipline. “I would want people to know how much they’re really doing for the school,” says Madden. “I would want them to know what a service the students are providing.” Madden also encourages students to respond to yearbook staffers if they receive a request for information so that staff can meet the publisher's deadlines. The yearbook staff appreciate feedback from their classmates. Cullens and Culler encourage students to talk to them about their ideas and to let them know if they want to be included. The next time you reach for your yearbook or think back to the good ole’ days, remember that there is a team of dedicated, passionate students who are working overtime to tell the tale of the Episcopal experience. Thank you to the 2019/2020 yearbook staff: Grace Cullens - editor Emily Culler - editor Zoe Marceaux - 2020/2021 editor Skyler Adams Caroline Chick Ford Garon Callie Hardy (first semester) Tanya Mencer (first semester) Ellen Rea Isabella Ruiz KC Shimada - photographer Kaydence White Savannah York - volunteer contributor The Episcopal 2020-2021 application is now available! For more information on the application process, to schedule a tour, or learn more about the school, contact us at enrollment@ehsbr.org or 755-2684.
 On Saturday, January 25th Episcopal placed 1st in Division 2 at the Catholic High Mu Alpha Theta math tournament. The tournament was attended by approximately 550 students from 32 schools. Episcopal brought 60 students in grades 5th – 12th that competed in subjects from Pre-Algebra to Calculus BC. Individual Test
Team Tests1st Comprehensive Math 0.5 – Luke Stelly, Nate McLean, Autumn Baldridge 1st Comprehensive Math 1 – Hayden Singh, Hayden Willett, Ahebwa Muhumuza, Ayush Patel 2nd Comprehensive Math 1 – Caroline Chick, Lauren McGrath, Shreya Kamath, Joie Lee 2nd Comprehensive Math 1.5 – Joey Roth, Ivy Jiang, Autumn Reynolds, Rebekah Reid 1st Calculus A – Allison Binning, Grace Scott, Sevie Breaux 1st Calculus B – Justin Dynes, Katie Knight, Arya Patel, Ryan Field 2nd Potpourri – Nick Johannessen, Andrea Norwood, Alex Nelson, Elaine Gboloo 2nd Middle School Interschool 1st Lower Interschool 1st Upper Interschool  Joan MoroneyJoan Moroney began teaching in 2007. She has taught Honors Geometry, Algebra II, and Honors Algebra II at Episcopal and is a co-sponsor of the Mu Alpha Theta math competition team. Before coming to Episcopal in 2014, Joan taught high school credit math courses to gifted students at Glasgow Middle School in Baton Rouge. She has a Bachelor of Science in secondary mathematics education from North Carolina State University and a master’s degree in education from Louisiana State University in gifted education. |
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